Crawley v Posh: Match Preview

Peterborough United came from behind to record a superb 4-1 victory at Crawley Town with Michael Smith, Marcus Maddison and a Conor Washington brace securing all three points.

Posh made a disastrous start, falling behind inside the opening two minutes, Izale MCLEOD firing home after good work from Tomlin.

Jack Baldwin planted a header from a Jon Taylor corner kick wide of the target on four minutes, the third successive corner kick Darren Ferguson's men had won in a row.

Jermaine Anderson and Conor Washington both saw shots blocked before the former fired over from close-range after a low Taylor cross.

On 12 minutes, Posh got themselves level and it had been coming. Anderson and Taylor were both superbly denied by Ashdown, but SMITH was there to gobble up the rebound for his first Peterborough United goal.

Bostwick was booked for a foul by the touchline on 13 minutes. Crawley lost the services of their goalscorer McLeod to injury on 22 minutes with Matt Harrold replacing him in attack.

Maddison was denied by Ashdown on 24 minutes with the former Gateshead man seeing his low drive from distance grabbed at the second attempt by the Reds shot-stopper.

Elliott sent an overhead kick wide of the target for the hosts on 27 minutes. Maddison scooped a left-foot shot over the bar moments later after a one-two with Washington as Posh broke on the counter attack.

Alnwick produced a fine stop to tip over a fierce Leacock effort and moments later, Crawley were appealing for a spot-kick as Alnwick appeared to collide with Harrold, but the officials gave a goal kick.

Anderson saw a volley deflect wide of the target on 35 minutes after a Taylor corner was only half cleared. On 40 minutes, Posh got themselves in front and predictably, given the amount of corner kicks Posh had won, it came from a set-piece.

Taylor's corner was met by Christian Burgess whose header found the net thanks to a little touch from Conor WASHINGTON by the goal-line.

Taylor was superbly denied by Ashdown before Newell volleyed over the top from the resulting corner, which was Posh's 10th corner of the first half.

Maddison was denied by Ashdown moments after the re-start as the lively attacker cut inside onto his left-foot. Lewis Young, brother of Ashley, fired over from 25-yards on 48 minutes.

On 54 minutes, Posh extended their advantage to 3-1 as MADDISON intercepted a terrible pass from Ashdown and calmly rolled the ball past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

It was 4-1 on 57 minutes as WASHINGTON calmly curled home from just inside the box after good work from Newell and Taylor down the left.

Young curled a free kick wide of the target on 58 minutes as a shell-shocked Crawley tried to regain their composure. Taylor dragged a shot wide of the near post on 62 minutes as Keane was booked for a foul on Maddison.

Washington was denied by Ashdown on 66 minutes as Posh caught the hosts on the counter attack with Maddison and Newell again involved.

On 74 minutes, Ashdown made a smart stop to deny a Maddison piledriver from distance as Posh pushed for a fifth. Newell was cautioned for a foul on Oyebanjo on 79 minutes.

Posh made a double substitution on 81 minutes with Kenny McEvoy and Grant McCann replacing Anderson and Taylor. Erhun Oztumer was given a late run out replacing Maddison for the final few minutes.